Tales to Astonish #101

Title: “Where Walk the Immortals!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Marie Severin

Inker: Frank Giacoia

Bruce Banner wakes up on the beach. A mystic command from far away transforms Bruce Banner into the Hulk.  

From Asgard, Loki watches the transformation and says that the Hulk will serve his ends. Loki says that he found the Hulk while looking for Thor. He was worried about Odin helping Thor and so he uses his power to bring the Hulk to Asgard. Loki figures that Hulk will be such a menace that he will distract Odin.

Hulk appears on the Rainbow Bridge. Heimdall tells the Hulk to go back and that Asgard's glory is not for him. He says that none that live may challenge him. Heimdall sees that the Hulk still advances. Heimdall blasts Hulk with a blast of energy from his sword and says that no one but immortals can withstand his sabre of sorcery. Hulk says that he doesn't know where he is, but that nobody does that to him. Heimdall sees Hulk doesn't fall and asks what manner of being he is. Heimdall says that he can see a hummingbird's wing a universe away, and hear a leaf trembling in a distant galaxy, but that he has never seen so mighty a mortal. Hulk says that if his ears are that sensitive that they will see what this does to him. Hulk smashes his fists against the Rainbow Bridge. The sound not only stuns Heimdall, but the force upsets the bridge and tosses Heimdall off. Hulk leaps from the bridge into Asgard before Heimdall can get back on the bridge. Heimdall says that it will have to be up to those inside.

Loki watches and says that all goes according to plan. He says that Odin will be distracted from Thor and Thor will perish leaving Asgard his for the taking one day.

Odin says that his heart is heavy.

Hogun the grim tells Hulk to turn and battle. Hulk asks if he thinks that he is afraid to battle. Hulk says that he can beat anyone who lives. Hogun says that he will have a chance, but that he never attacks an unarmed foe. Hogun tosses Hulk an axe. Hulk asks what he needs with a weapon. Hulk slams his hands together against the axe's blade and reduces it to dust. Hogun is knocked off his horse from the force. Hulk says that his strength is his greatest weapon. Volstagg and Fandral happen along. They see Hulk and Hogun coming to grips in the "manner of savage barbarians". Hulk charges Hogun and the two of them fall toward the heart of Asgard. Hogun says that he is immortal and that no fall will stop him. He asks Hulk how he can survive. Hulk says that he is the Hulk and that he can do anything. As they fall they knock the head off a giant statue.

Fandrall says that at last there is a foe worthy of their skill. He says that they had better get down there before the fight is over. Volstagg nervously tells Fandrall to go ahead and that he is afraid that is own prowess is so awesome that it would be wrong for him to unleash it against just one foe.

Loki watches the fight happily. He says that the more damage done the longer it will delay Odin from Thor. He says that he hopes Asgard crumbles in the process.

Fandral and Volstagg ride toward the fight. Fandral says that if only Volstagg could fight with his limbs as well as he does with his boasts. Volstagg says that he is the very soul of modesty. Hulk sees them coming and says that no matter how many come that he will smash them all. Hogun says that he claimed Hulk first. Hulk says that one man is not enough to fight the Hulk. Hulk picks up Volstagg and his horse with one hand. Fandral asks what manner of being they face. Hogun says that it is too bad Hulk is not Asgardian born. Hulk shakes Volstagg off his horse. Volstagg says that is unfair and that he was tricked. Hulk says that everywhere men battle him, but they will never win.  Volstagg tries to climb out of a hole and tells Fandral and Hogun to hold him back. Hulk says that he doesn't feel like fighting anymore. Hulk asks who they are. He asks where he is and why. Fandral says that he thinks the stranger has been bewitched. He says that there is no evil in one such as he. At that moment the warriors of Asgard attack thinking the Hulk is threatening the Realm Eternal. Fandral tries to tell them to stay back, but they can't hear him. Fandral throws his sword and it drops right in front of the charging warriors. Volstagg stands in front of them and Hogun backs him up. Loki says that they are in league with the monster. He says that the monster must be destroyed. He says that only a coward and a traitor would shirk from the task. Loki asks Hogun which one he is. Hogun says that Loki knows he can't hit a son of Odin or his mace would answer for him. Loki realizes that he can't provoke a fight.

Fandral tells the Hulk to share his saddle as they leap over the bottomless chasm to go and seek the wisdom of Oldar the Oracle. Hulk says that he doesn't need a horse to leap over the chasm and that he can leap over anything. As Hulk leaps, Loki says that the Hulk failed him and must die. He says another incantation and changes the Hulk back into Banner. Bruce falls into the chasm.

No Excuses rating: 8 out of 10

Gotta love Hulk in Asgard. It's too bad this wasn't a Hulk/Thor throw down, but you have to love Hulk pretty much trashing everyone in Asgard. Loki's plan doesn't really seem to affect Odin much except that he's bummed out for a panel. Marie Severin does a great job with this issue.

Title: " ...And Evil Shall Beckon!"

Writer: Archie Goodwin

Penciller: Gene Colan

Inker: Dan Adkins

Namor sleeps after his fight with the Hulk. A man's face calls out to Namor and asks him if he thinks he can hope to forget him. He asks if Namor dares to ignore him. Namor's sleep is restless. Namor thinks to himself that he knows the face. In his dream he tells the face that as he once perished at his hands that he will perish again. The man tells Namor to turn his wrath toward him.. to seek him out... to destroy him... if he has the courage. In his dreams he hurls himself at the face and wakes up.

Namor says that again he is haunted by the same vision. He says that this was sharper and more vivid than before, but still the same as before. He says that he always recognizes the face, but never remembers the identity. He says that he has been having this nightmare since he visited the grave of his mother. He says that it has never been so vivid and that even awake it stays with him. He says that he must clear his head. Namor takes off in flight. He says that up there he can think of new course of action against the surface world. He says that only deeds against his sworn enemy will regain the trust of his subjects. Still he thinks of the face in his dreams. He says that years of his life are lost to him because of amnesia. He says that if the dream is awakening lost memories that he can't ignore them. He says that too much importance lies during that time because it was then that Atlantis was destroyed and his mother killed. Namor says that the dreams started at the ruins and so he will head back there.

Namor is "blipped" flying through the air by a US soldier and he "blows the whistle" on him. He contacts a jet to check out the "UFO". The jet finds Namor and decides to follow him. Namor spots the jet and gets angry. He flies at the jet. The pilot fires two rockets. Namor catches both of them. He throws them back at the jet and blows it up. The pilot manages to eject. Namor says that he allowed the pilot to live so he could tell the others and increase the respect to his might. Namor sees the wreck will land harmlessly. He decides that the surface will pay later and that now he is concerned with the past.

In Atlantis, the Atlanteans emerge from their shelter to find Atlantis destroyed. A woman says that now they are forced to become wanderers again. A man says that the true Atlantis was not destroyed and that so long as they live Atlantis lives. Seth tells Dorma that this is a grim hour. Dorma says that they meet it with dignity. Seth says that none with more dignity than her for she lost not only Atlantis, but the life of her beloved Namor. Dorma says that at least Namor redeemed himself in the eyes of the people and convinced the council the futility of war against the surface. She says that they will search for a new Atlantis where they can have peace and that in some measure it was because of Namor. Seth sees her tears and says to come to his cabin before they depart. He thinks to himself how he has admired her and hopes she will think of him as she thought of Namor. Seth gives the command and the Atlanteans move in search of a new home.

Namor arrives at the Antarctic stretch where the old Atlantis lies below. Namor thinks that his instincts led him there as if he came this way in the past. Namor finds a spot on land and wonders why he would have come there in the past. He wonders what secrets the slopes have for him. Namor says that there is nothing there but the wind. He smashes his fist in frustration and finds a hidden cavern. Namor says that the answer must lie within. Namor sees a glow with strange half-light not unlike those of certain plants in his realm. He spots some carvings on the wall. Namor walks around a bend and finds the broken ramparts of a city. Namor senses the ice there thawing. He says that he detects a sleeping warmth from far below. Suddenly a giant being crashes through the ice. The giant sees Namor. Namor says that it is as if the giant's body were made of ice. The giant swings at Namor, but Namor dodges and hits the giant in the stomach. Touching the giant causes Namor to feel an intense cold. The giant tackles Namor and Namor feels wave after wave of the cold. Namor's amphibian body adjusts to the cold and hits the giant. He hits the giant again and knocks it out and threw a wall. Namor walks through the hole in the wall and sees a man on the inside. The man has the same face as the face from his dream.

Prince of the Realm rating: 8 out of 10

RETURN TO HULK ISSUES

RETURN TO NO EXCUSES

RETURN TO NAMOR ISSUES

RETURN TO PRINCE OF THE REALM

RETURN TO LEADER'S LAIR